The Voice of Mirza Xazar

By Ivan Simic

For the past few months we had the “honour” to read many articles and news reports in which above countries have been described as mayor threats and terrorism/terrorist supported states without any sustainable evidence. It is not a secret that these states are facing much political and economical turbulence’s, but that does not necessary means they are the world threats.

The titles like “Pakistan Terrorism Heaven”, “Iran the Most Active Terror Sponsor”, ”Pakistan Supports Terrorism” and “Iran Worst Terror Proliferator”, among others, are very insulting and unfair as they present sovereign countries and their citizens as terrorists.

Are the attacks and accusations on these and other states work of bad journalism or maybe corrupted journalism, or both, or maybe government propaganda or failed intelligence?

Let’s take a look on some interesting facts concerning these states which are not propaganda, accusations or attacks, rather information’s available to all interested in so called “another side of the story”.

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Iran, a founding member of the United Nation, has a population of over 74 million and is a home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations.

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran has been accused by a number of states, including the United States, Israel and some European countries, of funding, providing equipment, weapons, training and giving sanctuary to terrorists.

Particularly, the United States broke diplomatic ties with Iran in 1981, after the Iranian students seized the American Embassy in Tehran, where they held 53 Americans hostage for 444 days. According to the US officials, the US Government objects to Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism, its nuclear weapons ambitions, and its violations of human rights. The US Department of State lists Iran as the most active state sponsor of terrorism.

In addition, Iran has been accused of using the Ministry of Intelligence and Security to gather intelligence to plan terrorist attacks, of giving weapons and support to the Iraqi insurgency, of giving weapons and support to the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, for murder and kidnapping of the US Colonel William Higgins in Lebanon, among other things.

We are more or less aware of accusations against Iran and current public opinion concerning Iran, but there are many things about Iran which are less known to the public.

We can sum the reasons of Iran’s isolation from the rest of the world, and Iran’s classification as a terrorist state trough Iran’s defying policy and Iran’s ties with Hezbollah. Other reasons, like links to the Islamic Jihad (Palestinian Islamic Jihad) are more or less speculations, rather than the real deal. Concerning links with Hamas, the Hamas is not politically tied to Iran and it is mostly financed from Saudi Arabia. Hamas and Iran’s connections are subjected to deeper debate.

Iran’s Defying Policy

Iran's post revolution challenges have included the imposition of embargo and suspension of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States because of the Iran hostage crisis and other acts of terrorism that the US government and some others have accused Iran of sponsoring. To overcome foreign embargo, Iran has developed its own military industry, produced its own tanks, armoured personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines, military vessels, radar systems, helicopters and fighter planes.

Iran's foreign policy is based on two strategic principles: to eliminate outside influences in the region and to pursue extensive diplomatic contacts with developing and non-aligned countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran accords priority to its relations with the other states in the region and with the rest of the Islamic world. Presidents of Venezuela and Iran have both described themselves on the world stage as opposed to the US imperialism. Two states regard each other as closest allies.

Iran has been accused by the United States of giving weapons and support to the Iraqi insurgency. Despite these claims, no supportive evidence has ever been made viewable to the public, and while in the past US officials made the claim that the evidence was held in Iraq's possession and it would be up to them to decide whether to reveal it or not, Iraqi officials have claimed on various occasions that no such evidence exists. Nouri Maliki, Iraqi’s Prime Minister has praised Iran for its positive and constructive stance on Iraq, including providing security and fighting terrorism.

Iran's nuclear program has become the subject of debate with the Western world due to suspicions that Iran could divert the civilian nuclear technology to a weapons program. This has led the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran on select companies linked to this program.

The controversy over Iran's nuclear programs centers in particular on Iran's failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran asserts that there is no legal basis for Iran's referral to the United Nations Security Council since the IAEA has not proven that previously undeclared activities had a relationship to a weapons program, and that all nuclear material in Iran (including material that may not have been declared) had been accounted for and had not been diverted to military purposes. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, and has enriched uranium to less than 5 percent, consistent with fuel for a civilian nuclear power plant.

There are nearly 8,000 active nuclear warheads and about 23,300 total nuclear warheads in the world. Since 1945, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousand occasions for testing purposes and demonstration purposes. Countries known to have detonated nuclear weapons are: the United States, the Soviet Union (Russia), the United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, though it has refused to confirm or deny this. South Africa produced six nuclear weapons in the 80s, but disassembled them in the early 90s. Iran has no nuclear warheads.

The US and British officials have accused Iran of giving weapons and support to the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The US Time Magazine described Iran as "implacably hostile to the Taliban over that movement's extremist theology and over its killing of Afghan Shiite Muslims. In 1999, Iran almost went to war against the Taliban after its militia killed eight Iranian diplomats and a journalist after capturing a predominantly Shiite town, and has worked together with Russia to support anti-Taliban opposition forces". The Islamic government of Iran has a hard-line policy against drugs. This has often brought the government of Iran into direct conflict with the Taliban, which controls the drug trade in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Iran's new foreign policy has had a dramatic effect on its global standing. Relations with the European Union have dramatically improved to the point where Iran is a major oil exporter and trading partner for countries such as Italy, France and Germany. China, India, Sudan, Senegal, Morocco have also emerged as friends of Iran. Next to the well known relations with Venezuela, Iran has close relations with Brazil, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

There has also been some low-level cooperation between the US and Iran on antidrug policies, counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan in the aftermath of September 11 attack, and anti-oil-smuggling efforts in Iraq. It was said on that Iran was willing, under the right conditions, to improve its chilly relations with the US. Number of US experts, who include academics and former US ambassadors, warned against a military attack on Iran and called for unconditional negotiations with Iranian Government. Even President Barack Obama spoke directly to the Iranian people in a video saying "The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right - but it comes with real responsibilities."

Iran now has a leading manufacture industry in the Middle East; these include fields of car-manufacture and transportation, construction materials, home appliances, food and agricultural goods, armaments, pharmaceuticals, information technology, power and petrochemicals. Iran holds 10% of the worlds proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas. It is OPEC's (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer. Iran ranks seventh among countries in the world with the most archeological architectural ruins and attractions from antiquity as recognized by UNESCO.

Iran is an example of a country that has made considerable advances through education and training, despite international sanctions in almost all aspects of research during the past few decades. Despite the limitations in funds, facilities, and international collaborations, Iranian scientists remain highly productive in several experimental fields as pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry.

Hezbollah

Iran has been widely accused of supporting and financing Hezbollah for years. The US Government estimates that Iran was giving Hezbollah about $60-$100 million per year in financial assistance but that assistance declined as other funding was secured, primarily from South America. Besides financial, Hezbollah also receives political assistance, as well as weapons and training from Iran. As of July 2009 it was reported that Iran is helping Hezbollah rebuild Lebanon.

What is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is a Shi'a Islamist political and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon. Some western governments consider Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, some however, do not.

Hezbollah is believed to be a major provider of social services, which operate schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites, and plays a significant force in Lebanese politics. Hezbollah holds seats in the Lebanese government, and has a radio and a satellite television-station, and programs for social development. Lebanon's new Cabinet unanimously approved a draft policy statement which secures Hezbollah's existence as an armed organization and guarantees its right to liberate or recover occupied lands. Lebanon continues to reject the US-Israeli demands that they freeze Hezbollah's bank accounts and force it stop providing social services.

Since the Supreme Leader of Iran is the ultimate clerical authority, Hezbollah's leaders have appealed to him for guidance and directives in cases when Hezbollah's collective leadership was too divided over issues and failed to reach a consensus. After the death of Iran's first Supreme Leader, Khomeini, Hezbollah's governing bodies developed a more independent role and appealed to Iran less often.

Governments disagree on Hezbollah’s status as a legitimate political entity, a terrorist group, or both. In 1999, Hezbollah was placed on the US State Department terrorism list. After Hezbollah's condemnation of the September 11 attacks, it was removed from the list, but it was later returned to the list when Dick Cheney opined that a "presumed Hezbollah operative" probably met with an Al Qaeda representative in South America in 2001.

At the urging of the US and Israel, Canada classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which limits the group's ability to raise funds and travel internationally. A Canadian peace coalition called Tadamon Montreal is working to remove Hezbollah from the Terrorism list in Canada.

Australia and the UK distinguish between Hezbollah's security and political wings, and other countries like China, Russia, and member states of the European Union and the United Nations have refused the US-Israel demands to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization at all.

It appears Iran is doing the world a favour by financing Hezbollah. If not, Hezbollah would be desperate for funds, and would be engaged in numerous illegal activities to reach them.

Unfortunately, today Iran is known to the public for “bad things”; however the truth is Iran gave us so many good and useful things.

Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 BC. Iran is a founding member of the United Nations, and host of the Tehran Conference in 1943. Persian scientists contributed to the current understanding of nature, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. Persians made important contributions to algebra and chemistry, invented the wind-power machine, and the first distillation of alcohol. Ethanol (alcohol) was first identified by Persian alchemists Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi. Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī is widely hailed as the father of algebra.

Iran is ninth country in the world capable of both producing a satellite and sending it into space from a domestically-made launcher. Iran's Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics is a UNESCO chair in biology. Stem cell research in Iran is amongst the top 10 in the world. Iran is the 7th country in production of Uranium Hexafluoride. Iran is ranked 15th in the world in nanotechnologies. Iran is the birthplace of polo, and Varzesh-e Pahlavani (traditional Martial art and a style of Wrestling). There are currently between 70-80 Iranians working for NASA, making up approximately 43% of NASA's researchers. Iran has a vast number of professors and scientist working around the world in most prestigious institutions and Universities, among others.

Terrorist attacks and mass car bombings in Iran

On January, 12, 2010, Tehran University professor, particle physics scientist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi was killed in a remote control bomb explosion in the Iranian capital and at least two people were lightly wounded in the explosion. No organization has yet reliably claimed responsibility.

On May 28, 2009, an explosion at a prominent Shi'ite Muslim mosque in the southeast Iranian city of Zahedan killed 25 people and wounded 80. On June 20, 2009, a suicide bomb reportedly explodes at the shrine of former Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leaving 1 dead and 2 injured. In October 2009, 42 people have died in the suicide attack, in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, and dozens more injured.

On April 12, 2008, a bomb exploded inside of the Shohada Hosseiniyeh mosque leaving 13 dead and over 200 injured. Same year, a suicide bomber belonging to the Sunni militant group Jundallah killed 4 and wounded 12 civilians.

On June 12, 2005, bombs exploded in the cities of Ahvaz and Tehran, leaving 10 dead and 80 wounded days before the Iranian presidential election. On October 15, same year, two bombs exploded at a shopping mall in Ahvaz, Khuzestan leaving 6 dead and over 100 injured. The list goes on.

Numerous civilians, including women, children, government officials, activists, intellectuals and clerics have been victims of terrorism over the course of modern Iranian history.

Therefore, the questions are: Does Iran really present threat to the world? Is Iran a victim of political or deadly terror, or both?

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan has been accused by many countries like India, Poland, Bangladesh, Iran, Afghanistan, the United States and the United Kingdom of persistent involvement in terrorism in Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been accused by Human Rights Watch of sheltering and training the Taliban, bankrolling Taliban operations, providing diplomatic support for Taliban, arranging training for Taliban fighters, recruiting skilled and unskilled manpower to serve in Taliban armies, planning and directing offensives, providing and facilitating shipments of ammunition and fuel, and on several occasions apparently directly providing combat support. Pakistan is also said to be a haven for terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Omar, Lashkar-e-Toiba, and Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Many consider that Pakistan has been playing both sides in the US "War on Terror". The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI, the largest intelligence service in Pakistan) has often been accused of playing a role in major terrorist attacks across the world including the September 11 attacks, terrorism in Kashmir, Mumbai Train Bombings, 2005 London Bombings, Indian Parliament Attack, Varnasi bombings, Hyderabad bombing and Mumbai terror attacks. The ISI is also accused of supporting Taliban forces and recruiting and training mujahedeen to fight in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Satellite images from the US Federal Biro of Investigation and India's Research and Analysis Wing clearly suggest the existence of many terrorist camps in Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan has come under the fire for the alleged involvements in terrorist bombings in India, which killed thousands over the last decade. India alleged that the recent 2008 Mumbai attacks originated in Pakistan, and that the attackers were in touch with a Pakistani colonel and other handlers in Pakistan. In July 2009, current President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari admitted that the Pakistani government had "created and nurtured" terrorist groups to achieve its short-term foreign policy goals. In fact, the US has stated that the next attack on the US could originate in Pakistan.

Knowing this entire story about Pakistan, why did the US in 2004 recognized closer bilateral ties with Pakistan by designating Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, making it eligible, among other things, to purchase advanced American military technology? Why did the US and Pakistan conclude the sale of F-16 aircraft in late 2006 to Pakistan Army, further reflecting their deepening strategic partnership? Why the US shelters Pakistan nuclear development and warheads, when Pakistan has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)?

If all concerning Pakistan is true, why did the fallowing countries form “Friends of Pakistan” group: Britain, France, Germany, the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Turkey, Australia and Italy, plus the United Nations and the European Union? Why did the US congress approve $7.5 Billion non-military aid to Pakistan over the next 5 years?

Despite all this, Pakistan stands strong in international community, and it appears Iran has much to learn from Pakistan when it comes to bilateral relations with the United States.

Actually, Pakistan and Iran are much more then so called “Terrorist States”. Pakistan and Iran are two out of eleven countries classified as “the Next Eleven - N-11”. Goldman Sachs investment bank indentified the two for having a high potential of becoming the world's largest economies in the 21st century along with the BRIC’s (fast-growing developing economies) countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Terrorist attacks and mass car bombings in Pakistan:

On February 5, 2010, a motorbike laden with explosives targeted a bus carrying a group of Shias to a religious festival. A second bomb exploded outside the entrance to the emergency ward of the Jinnah hospital, where the victims of the first attack were being treated. More than 33 people were killed and 170 injured. On February 3, a blast near a school hits a Pakistani Frontier Corps convoy. The attack kills several children and 3 US Marines attached as trainers to the Pakistani frontiersmen.

On January 30, 2010, a suicide bomber detonates at a checkpoint in Khar, the main town in the troubled Bajaur tribal region, killing 16 and injuring 20 people. January 23, a car bomb exploded against a Police Station in South Waziristan, killing 4 people. January 12, a rocket struck a two storey building in city of Peshawar resulting in the building collapsing. Emergency services were able to evacuate five people to hospital with various injuries but one person was reported trapped in the building as is presumed dead from the terrorist incident. January 6, a suicide bomber targeted a Pakistan army patrol in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, killing four Pakistani soldiers and injuring eleven other soldiers. Pakistan officials blamed the attack on the Pakistani Taliban. January 3, a bomb attack hit the north-western Pakistani town of Hangu, killing a former provincial minister and two other people.

On January 1, 2010, At least 105 people died and over 100 were injured, many of them critically, when the suicide bomber blew up his sport utility vehicle filled with explosives in the middle of a crowd that had gathered to watch a volleyball game. As of 3 January 2010, it is the deadliest bombing in Pakistan since the Peshawar bombing in October 2009 when more than 110 people died.

On December 28, 2009, a suicide bomber detonates at a crowded Shia Muslim parade, killing 43 and injuring 60. December 27, a suicide bomber detonates at a checkpoint outside a local Shia Muslim gathering point in the town of Muzaffarabad, killing 5 injuring 62. December 27, Pakistan Militants blow up the house of local official Sarbraz Saddiqi, killing him, his wife and four children. December 24, a suicide bomber detonates his explosives at a checkpoint, killing 4and injuring 12. December 22, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a press club, killing 3 and injuring 17. December 18, a suicide bomber detonates near a mosque, killing 12 and injuring 28. December 15, a bomb blast hits a market in the central Pakistani town of Dera Ghazi Khan, killing 33 and injuring 50. December 8, Suicide attackers raid an Inter-Services Intelligence office in the city, killing 12 and injuring 25. December 7, two bomb blasts ripped through a busy market as it was crammed in by shoppers. The attack, which injured some 100 people, sparked a huge blaze at the city's Moon Market. The blasts came just hours after a suicide bomber killed 10 and injured 44 people in Peshawar. December 7, two anti-Taliban tribal elders were assassinated by a remotely controlled bomb near a mosque. December 4, four gunmen attack a mosque which is frequented by current and former Pakistani military personnel, killing 38 and injuring 80. Security forces responded to the incident and a gun battle erupted, followed by three of the attackers detonating themselves. December 2, Suicide bomber detonates at entrance to Pakistani Naval HQ, killing 2 people. December 1, Pakistani government official is assassinated in a suicide bomb attack at his residence. And the list goes on.

Looking at this, we can say without doubt that Pakistan is “the world’s largest magnet for terrorist attacks”.

Just in 2009 Pakistan had around 60 terrorist attacks in which more than 1,000 people lost their lives and more than 2,400 were injured. In 2008 Pakistan had around 45 terrorist attacks in which more than 750 people lost their lives and more than 1,400 were injured. And the list of attacks continues.

Pakistan and Iran are not the only major victims of terrorist attacks. A report of terrorist incidents shows that Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Somalia, Yemen, Israel, Lebanon, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Philippines are as well major victims of terrorism.

For the end, the question is: how come the countries which are accused of supporting and protecting terrorism are in fact the main victims of terrorism?

Mardan Palace Hotel Antalya

ISTANBUL - Europe's most luxurious resort, Mardan Palace Hotel, owned by Russian businessman Telman Ismailov is opened in Antalya. A splendid ceremony was held and in attendance were Hollywoodcelebrities and other famous artists.

Europe’s newest and most expensive luxury resort, Mardan Palace Hotel, was unveiled over the weekend at a spectacular opening ceremony in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. The five-star Mardan palace Hotel, built by Russian businessman Telman Ismailov, was host to world famous artists and Hollywood stars for the opening extravaganza.

Ismailov, who is of Azerbaijani descent, said he had realized 20-year old dream with the $1.4 billion hotel. "I made this investment because I love Turkey so much. I have always dreamed of making such an investment in this country. Finally, I realized it," he said.

The press conference, held Saturday before the opening ceremony, was attended by Hollywood stars Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, Monica Belucci, Paris Hilton, singers Seal, Tom Jones and Mariah Carey as well as many foreign and Turkish journalists.

When a press member asked Stone and Belucci the secret of their beauty, Belucci said: "My source of inspiration is Sharon Stone." She said she came from a beautiful family, adding: "The biggest effect on my beauty is the people around me."

Stone said beauty was a matter of inner life. She said people’s life had two parts. "A face is given to you in the first part of your life. And in the second part, you get the face you deserve. Beauty is related to the way you live your life. But in life, peace and generosity is reflected on your face."

When a British press member suggested to Richard Gere that Hollywood stars should be more open about their sexual preferences, Gere said: "I think everyone should be open about their sexual preferences. For example, my brother is gay and married. He has two adopted kids."

Views about the hotel

The artists, who attended the press conference, were asked their opinions of the Mardan Palace Hotel. Belucci said she wanted to stay in the hotel for a long time but that it would not yet be possible. She said she would come to Antalya again for a long holiday.

Stone said Ismailov’s generosity could be seen in every detail of the hotel. "It is very nice that he provided such an employment opportunity in this crisis environment," she said.

Seal said it was incredible that everything in the hotel’s design was the work of Ismailov, adding that he should be congratulated. "You can see the style of the Ottoman Empire in the hotel. I really felt the golden age of the empire here. When you make an investment, you have to respect culture and preserve it. Ismailov succeeded it."

Expressing his delight to be in Turkey, Gere said: "I wish I had an opportunity to visit Turkey. I want to see this extraordinary country with my wife. I came here because Ismailov made a noteworthy donation to my foundation," he said.

After the press conference, Europe’s most luxury resort opened with a party that went on inot the late hours. Dignitaries and artists cut the ribbon together to open the hotel. Presented by Stone and Seal, the opening ceremony hosted 600 special guests. Carey, Jones and well-known Russian singer Philip Kirkorov performed concerts during the night.

Mardan Palace Hotel

With the Taurus Mountain range as a backdrop, Mardan Palace Hotel has 560 rooms, including two Royal Suites with private pools. Drawing on a Turkish heritage, the hotel’s architecture reflects distinctive landmarks of Istanbul. The main hotel resembles the Dolmabahçe Palace and bridges across the pool are based on original designs of the Da Vinci Bridge. Having the Mediterranean’s largest swimming pool, the hotel also boasts the 7,500 square meter "Mardan Spa," 17 bars and 10 a la carte restaurants that include French, Japanese, Russian, Thai and traditional Turkish cuisine.

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/lifestyle/11716008.asp?gid=244

Technorati Tags: Azerbaijan, Mardan Palace, Antalya resort, Telman Ismailov

EURASIA INSIGHT

Mina Muradova 3/17/09

Azerbaijani citizens will hold a constitutional referendum on March 18 that may well seal the fate of the country’s democratization process. The key amendment up for public approval concerns the lifting of presidential term limits.

In all, voters will decide on 41 amendments to 29 articles of Azerbaijan’s constitution, touching on issues ranging from the right to privacy to freedom of media. Amendments with a majority "yes" vote will be adopted, provided that 25 percent of Azerbaijan’s more than 4.9 million voters take part in the referendum.

Most domestic and international attention has focused on provision on removing presidential term limits. Critics say the amendment, if approved, will effectively guarantee that the incumbent, Ilham Aliyev, son of the late president Heydar Aliyev, will become president-for-life.

"This referendum has only one purpose . . . to perpetuate the Aliyevs’ power," declared Isa Gambar, head of the opposition Musavat Party in a March 14 meeting with voters in Sumgayit, not far from Baku. "I call on you to take a break on March 18. Do not go to the polling stations and say ’No’ to the Aliyevs and their lawlessness by this action."

In a March 16 statement, the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which monitors member-states’ constitutional changes, posited that the lack of restraints on President Aliyev’s current powers means that "unlimited re-election of a President is a step back, in terms of democratic achievements." Belarus is the only European presidential republic that does not limit the number of consecutive terms.

Term limits, the commission continued, are "meant to limit the risk of negative consequences for democracy arising from the fact that a same person has the possibility of occupying the presidency for an excessive period of time."

The fact that the proposed amendment poses the question in terms of extending the president’s term "during a state of war" further complicates the issue, the commission wrote. Azerbaijan officially considers itself to be at war with Armenia over the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

One senior Yeni Azerbaijan Party parliamentarian, however, countered that the Venice Commission’s opinions carry little weight. "The Azerbaijani Constitution is being amended under transparent conditions. Azerbaijan took European countries’ constitutions into account while amending the constitution," stated Ali Huseynov, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament’s State Institutions and Legal Policy Committee, on March 16. "We did not consider it necessary to apply to the [Council of Europe’s] Venice Commission," the APA news agency reported Huseynov as saying.

One international law expert criticized the referendum process as illegitimate. "It started one month after the presidential elections, but during the election neither the main candidate [Ilham Aliyev], nor his representatives announced their intention to amend the constitution," argued Erkin Gadirli. "It is dishonest towards voters who, as it seems, voted for a candidate who had hidden plans."

The Constitutional Court’s decision to hold the referendum was made on President Aliyev’s birthday, December 24, he continued, terming the ruling "absolutely politically motivated." The high court’s eight judges, who are presidential appointees, "became hostages of a situation that affects their independence," Gadirli said. Under the proposed amendment, the court would decide when the president’s term can be extended.

Meanwhile, both the Venice Commission and the non-governmental organization Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center have taken issue with the lack of public discourse surrounding the referendum.

The Azerbaijani public is "very little" informed about the vote, noted the EMDS Center on Mach 15; a situation that the NGO attributes to "the absence of freedoms of assembly, speech and press." Violations observed during the run-up to the referendum range from arrests of anti-referendum activists to the removal of anti-referendum posters from public places, the group said.

The Venice Commission noted that political groups have regretted "the insufficient consultation" which has taken place before the vote and "the limited" public discussion on the pros and cons of the various amendments proposed.

The lack of debate was among the reasons cited by the opposition parties and non-governmental organizations for voters to boycott the referendum, as announced on March 10. The 28-day campaign period was not adequate for disseminating any different point of view about the proposed amendments, they argued.

The government, however, is shrugging off all criticism. "The opposition does not have any alternative opinions or concrete position regarding the referendum. Therefore, they decided to boycott the referendum," stated Elnur Aslanov, head of the presidential administration’s Policy Analysis and Information Department. "It shows the opposition’s indecision and lack of scruples. Their decision will not have any impact on the results of the referendum."

Countered Lala Shovkat, leader of the Liberal Party, on March 14: "The constitution is not a suit that everyone can destroy and alter for himself."

Editor's Note: Mina Muradova is a freelance reporter based in Baku.

Posted March 17, 2009 © Eurasianet
http://www.eurasianet.org